I studied Fashion Design and Technology at MMU. I started making clothes because I couldn't find what I wanted to wear in the shops, but had a love for dressing up, theatrical & vintage style.
After University I spent years in my home studio, working on my designs and reworking vintage pieces to sell back to local vintage stores in Sheffield.
Eventually I built up the confidence to go full time & launched my brand Molly Rouge - offering unique ready to wear pieces and a bespoke dressmaking service in 2009.
I trained with 2 female business owners who specialised in clothing alterations.
In 2015 I opened my own shop, offering Dressmaking and Alterations in Brighton.
For 5 years until 2020 I fitted and repaired thousands of garments, and created just under 100 bespoke garments for the public and myself. (I'm pictured here wearing a made to measure floral print t-shirt made from a remnant of jersey fabric)
The shop had to close due to covid restrictions, and I had become pregnant. After 2 years maternity leave, lots of researching & thinking, I decided to focus on what felt morally and socially important - the global fashion emergency.
I decided to make things that people could wear every day, using fabrics that would otherwise go to landfill or sit gathering dust in a cupboard.
I began collecting vintage curtains, hand embroidered table cloths, crochet trimmed lace linens and other beautiful vintage fabrics, to create my sustainable zero waste, made to order and ready to wear collections.
For the last 2 years I have been working out how best to use these textiles to create practical and easy to wear clothes that will be loved for years to come.
I'm currently studying Sustainable Fashion at Masters level at Falmouth University.
I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions, comments, or feedback at all.
I'm planning to launch a made to order range soon, just getting photos of my collection of materials that you can choose from, or you can send in your own.
I'm also working on making some of my sewing patterns digital so that you can buy them, print them and make them yourself.